People v. Birdsong

This case raises the question of whether a guilty plea pursuant to North Carolina v. Alford, 400 U.S. 25, 91 S.Ct. 160, 27 L.Ed.2d 162 (1970), requires additional advisement and findings prior to acceptance by. the trial court, or whether the acceptance of such a plea constrains the court in later revocation of probation. proceedings.1 • Douglas Birdsong entered an Alford plea to misdemeanor third degree sexual assault as part of a plea agreement that involved the dismissal of two class three felonies and one class four felony. The parties stipulated in writing to a probationary sentence…